Does the dealership sticker on your new car annoy you, and you don’t want to have it anymore? Then you’ve come to the right place. We’ll show you how to remove a dealer sticker in a simple and efficient way. Follow our guide and enjoy the look of your vehicle once it’s sticker-free.
How do you remove sticky labels from stores? When you watch the best car shows or some other TV shows about cars, you can see that they don’t have any stickers and ads from the dealership they were bought from. In case you’ve got one, and you want your car to look just like the ones from shows, you’ll have to know how to remove a dealer decal, and we have the solution. The main trick is to remove the sticker so that there’s no glue or dirt left behind. With our guide on how to remove the dealership decal, you won’t damage the paint, and your car will look like the sticker was never there.
Stickers, vinyl decals, or however you want to call them, are free ads that dealerships put on vehicles so that when you drive, you show others where you got the car from. They are made in a way that they don’t come off by themselves, so it can happen that you drive for years, and the decal looks intact. No one should be used as a free billboard, so in case you happen to have the name of the dealer or their website glued to the back of your car, you probably want to peel it off.
Imagine the president’s limo with a dealer’s ad on the back. Doesn’t look well, does it? Most people feel that way and want to learn how to remove a dealer sticker from a car. Since the stickers are difficult to get rid of, you might ask how do you remove a car dealership decal? You can’t do it simply by scratching, or using anything sharp, because there’s a chance you’ll destroy the car paint on that part. That’s the reason why many people find them annoying.
Another reason to get rid of the stickers is auto detailing. Suppose you’re into keeping the car in its best condition, just like the vehicles in showrooms are. Then you probably want to remove the dealer sticker from the car as well. It would really be a shame to see a car in a perfect condition, with a polished and clean interior and exterior, with some sticker standing next to the name of the model. Consistent detailing is amazing for your four-wheeler in both the short and long term. You can do it yourself, or hire a detailer.
The list of things you will require to remove a dealership decal is short, but we’ll list all the alternatives you have, so don’t get confused. You don’t need everything from this list – pick the items you already have or that are the easiest to find near you:
The question of how do you remove car decals without damaging the paint is an easy one if you’ve never repainted your car or if it has never been repainted in the past. If you have original paint on your car, just make sure that you aren’t using anything sharp. All the residual adhesive can be peeled off perfectly if you don’t use anything that can scratch the surface of your car.
However, aftermarket paint can be sensitive to some ingredients in adhesive removers, so be cautious when choosing which one you will use. It’s possible that it will wear away because it can’t withstand the chemicals. It’s important to be slow, careful, and gentle. If you see that the color is starting to wear off, it’s better to stop and find another solution.
Now, let’s get to the point. If you’ve got everything you require for this job – we can start. Keep in mind that, if it hasn’t been there for long, it will be much easier to remove the dealer sticker, while the older ones can be tricky.
Start by washing the sticker and the surrounding area. A simple solution of soap and water will do the job. Soak the sponge in the solution and be sure no dirt is left. Rinse with clear water and dry the area.
Once completely clean and dry, take the heat gun or the hairdryer and heat the decal. Guns should be put on low or medium, while hairdryers can be turned on high. That (or a whole day on the sun) will melt the adhesive underneath the stickers and make removing dealership decals possible. Use the extension cord if you can’t reach the outlet. Try to peel a part of a sticker with an object you chose from our list above from time to time and see if there is any need to heat it any longer. Keep the heat on while doing that. Stickers that were recently placed should come off by now, while the older ones could cause some struggle.
When the vinyl stickers are gone, you will see some glue left on the surface. Don’t leave it there because it will attract dirt. Use a clean cloth, soak it in adhesive remover and leave it on that area for about ten minutes. You can tape the cloth on so you don’t have to hold it. After that, carefully rub off the glue. If it doesn’t work because there’s too much residue left, you can scrape it off. Use whatever method you prefer; just don’t pressure rub or scrape anything.
Now that you’re sticker-free, take a clean microfiber towel and wipe the area where the glue was.
Imagine getting your new ride shipped on an open trailer or even on an enclosed trailer from another state, paying hundreds of dollars for auto transport and realizing that there’s an ugly emblem on the back. Dealers sometimes add more things to the vehicle on top of free advertising. If you’re in a situation that you have badges or emblems that you want to get rid of, don’t despair – there’s a solution for that as well.
Some don’t recommend removing emblems and badges because it can gouge the paint. Another reason is that some dealerships use alignment posts through the body of the car, which can leave holes you won’t be able to cover up. If you’re still up for doing it, here’s what steps you need to follow:
No matter if it’s a used or a brand new car just bought from the dealer, you should take good care of it. Once you learn how to remove a dealership sticker and get rid of decals, emblems, or badges you didn’t like and make your ride just the way you wanted it, make sure that you wash it regularly.
It would be a shame to ride one of the popular import cars or some other best cars for city driving and to keep it dirty. A dirt-free exterior will be a huge factor in keeping your paint job more durable than if you neglect it. No matter if you’re a bigger fan of classic cars or modern cars, washing and waxing them will make your ride look the same as the day you bought it. Waxing will also help in making the car tidy.
If you don’t own a garage where you can keep your car from extreme weather, it would be a good idea to get a good car cover. That way, your automobile will be safe from any kind of outside factors, including tree sap, debris, bird droppings, as well as UV rays, which can damage both the exterior and interior.
After implementing these tips and learning how to remove a dealer decal from a car, the only thing left is to enjoy driving on the famous routes in the USA with your four-wheeled partner and to enjoy.